Vehicle-wheel.



No. 872,836. PATENTED DEE. 3, 1967.

T. J.MELL. VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 19061 Sar TOD J. MELL, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO,ASSIGNOR TO THE REPUBLIC RUBBER COMPNY, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF OHIO.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

hereby declare the following to be a full,`

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use theSame.

My present invention relates to vehicle tires and Wheel rims formounting same.

It hasy for its object the production of a pneumatic tire having certainpeculiarities of construction, and also a detachable or separable rim,the latter constructed to receive and securely retain such tires in,operative position. Further objects and purposes'of the invention larethe' prevention of cree ing of the. tire y upon its-supporting rim; an eectual sealing of the innergportions 'of said tire against leakf age;ease and facility with which the tire maybe removed or replaced ,andabsolute lsecurity of the rim locking means for clamp compressing andholding the tireto'the Wheel. A

-The invention will be hereinafterparticularly described and pointed outin the claims following. 4 1n the accompanying drawings which form parto f this `application and whereon correspending numerals indicate likeparts in the several views: Figure l is a fragmentary `view in sideelevation and upon a small scale, -of a pneumatic tire and separable runem'- bodymg my invention, Flg. 2 1s a transverse verticalisection on theline :c Fig. 1, through a wheel felly, separable rim and a pneumatictire surmounting same in operative relation, and Fig. 3 is a viewcorresponding with Fig. 2, except that the tire is omitted, the sectionis takeon the line y-fy, Fig. 1, and the several rim parts are slightlyseparated.

Reference being had to the drawings and numerals thereon, 1 re resentsan ordinary wheel felly, to the periphery of which is posiv tivelysecured the relatively fixed body por- ,tion 2 of the rim. This body 2is curled upon itself at one side tofform the usual fixed clencherlange3, while its other side is curved oppositely to form an inturned annularflange 4 of slightly tapering cross section.

Specification lcf Letters Patent. A Application filed May 17. 1906.Serial No. 3171369.`

Patented nec. 3, 1907.*

.The numeral 5 represents thel annular de tachable side flangecorresponding with, and laterally adjustable with relation to the fixedflange 3 aforesaid.. 'This detachable flange 5 is provided withanannular shoulder agency of a spring locking ring 8 as Shown. This ring.8 is substantially `lil-shape in cross section with inwardly convergingside walls adapted to be interlocked therewith byor cooperating inclinedfaces as shown by Figs. 2 and' 3, and at one point inits circu-mferenceis broken so that its ends 9, 9 do, not

ordinarily meet but are separated by alfille'r block 10 Vas shown byFig., 1. The block 10 corresponds in cross section with ring 8,- andis-retainedin position by screwll threaded between the locking flanges 47 aforesaid, or into a lug formed upon either of them at the properpoint or in any other manner.

Between the opposing flanges 3,' 5 may be located a pneumatic tire' asindicated by Fig. 2, comprising theusual inner tube 12, casing of fabric13, outerelastic tread 14, and clencher beads 15115 having tough rubbercores 16-16. Molded into each of the said cores 16-16 are endlessnonstretchable cables 174-17; while the adjacent edges of dicated byFig. 2, and for purposes whichv will now appear in a statement of use.

rlhe foregoing being a ,description of my invention in its prefererdform of construction it should be understood that same may be variouslyaltered and rearranged without departing from the spirit thercof,. orinterfering with the results accomplished.

When constructed as 'shown the operationv of applying a tire is asfollows :--`Filler.block 10 first being removed byV withdrawal of screw11 the ends 9, 9 of locking ring 8 are sprung together, thus reducingthe circumference sufficiently to permit its removal over the projectingflanges. 4, 7 asindicated by Fig. 3. The detachable side flange 5 isnext removed laterally and one of the clencher beads 15 inserted beneaththe curved flange 3 of rim body 2, 'followed by the other clencher bead15, which in turn is followed by the detachable flange 5. Locking ring 8is -now replaced as it was removed and allowed cushion the adjacentparts, present a smooth point, and at samp;- time unbroken seat for theinner tube 12 at this ard against all possibility of leakage anterioration of the fabric and inner linings. This adjustment effectedthe space between ends 9, 9 of locking ring 8 is next closed'byintroduction 0f the channeled filler block 10 'as shown by Fig. 1', saidblock .in turn being secured by agency of the single screw 11 returnedfor the purpose of finally lockin all parts in operative relation. Thusit wi l be particularly observed the resiliency of ring 8 serves notonly to interlock the separable rim sections, but owing to itsrelatively inclined faces automatically draws andv jams such sectionstogether placing-allparts intermediate of the side clencher flanges 3-5under compression.- Such compression is transvmitted naturally to theintermediate elastic or yielding tip ortips 18, Which present a smoothbearing for the surface of inner tube 12 at this point, and positivelyprecludes the possibility of any relative movement -or play between thetire beads 15, 15 on either side.

Having thus described my invention, what consequent deinclined faces forrawingand 'Sec'uringsai veraser.

I claiml and desire to ysecure Pat;

ent, is:

1. In a circumferentially divided ,wheel rim, the combination withseparable sections,-

of "a spring lockl having coperatin sections together, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a circumferentially divided wheel rim, the combination withseparable sections, of an outwardly extending spring locking ring havingcoperati inclined faces for drawing and securing'sald sections together,

substantially as described.

' 3. In a circumferentially divided wheel rim,.the combination withseparable sections,

of a channeled springflocki lringhaving cotions together, andmeans-whereby said-ring is retained in operative position, substan-vrelatively fixed and removable sections, of a locking ange upon each ofsaid'sections, a

non-continuous. locking ring having relatively inclined faces .fordrawing said'ilanges together, a filler block interposed between theends of said ring, and means for securing said block, vsubstantiallyas'described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

Ton J. MELL.

Witnesses:

W. C. CARMAN, J. P. FRANCIS.

jan. o erating inclinedfaces for rawing said secr

